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ELDERLY VICTIMS IN BOSTON

NCJ Number
40009
Author(s)
R MORAN; S SCHAFER
Date Published
Unknown
Length
51 pages
Annotation
DEMOGRAPHIC AND ATTITUDINAL DATA ARE REPORTED IN THIS SURVEY OF A SAMPLE OF ELDERLY BOSTON (MA) RESIDENTS LIVING IN ELDERLY HOUSING UNITS, FAMILY HOUSING UNITS, AND PRIVATE HOMES.
Abstract
THE SURVEY REVEALED CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND NOT CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON WERE THE MOST FREQUENTLY COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY. PURSE SNATCHING AND POCKET PICKING WERE THE CRIMES MOST OFTEN COMMITTED ON THE STREETS, AND BREAK-INS OR BURGLARIES WERE THE CRIMES MOST FREQUENTLY COMMITTED IN THE HOME. ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN FAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS WERE THE MOST FREQUENTLY VICTIMIZED OF THE THREE RESIDENTIAL GROUPS. THE TYPICAL SINGLE OFFENDER WAS A NONWHITE MALE, 21 TO 30 WHO MORE OFTEN THAN NOT VICTIMIZED AN ELDERLY MEMBER OF HIS OWN RACE. MULTIPLE OFFENDERS WERE YOUNG MALES WHO TENDED TO VICTIMIZE FEMALES. THE ELDERLY POPULATION SURVEYED DID NOT GENERALLY KNOW THE EXTENT OF CRIME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. FEAR OF CRIME KEPT 6 PERCENT OF THEM AT HOME ALL THE TIME AND SIGNIFICANTLY RESTRICTED THE ACTIVITIES OF AN ADDITIONAL 21 PERCENT. A FULL 60 PERCENT OF ELDERLY CRIME VICTIMS DID NOT NOTIFY THE POLICE, ALTHOUGH 93 PERCENT HELD POSITIVE OR NEUTRAL ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO INCLUDE PROGRAMS TO REDUCE THE FEAR OF CRIME AMONG THE ELDERLY IN THE BROADER PROGRAMS THAT EDUCATE THEM ABOUT THE RISK OF VICTIMIZATION. SEE ALSO NCJ-40010....PLO

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